Magistrates of the Parlements essays

Magistrates of the Parlements essays The Magistrates of the Parlements - Truly Noble? Reading the remonstrances of the Parlements between the years 1775 and 1788, one is struck by the zeal and enthusiasm with which the magistrates, public servants drawn from the nobility, fought for the rights of Frances poor. Claiming to desire to plead the cause of the people before Your Majestys tribunal (52), they provided a voice to the King for members of French society who could not speak for themselves. There are indications, however, that their intentions were not completely altruistic. Were they really sincere in their desire to aid the lower classes, or were these nobles leading a fight which they felt would retain their popularity and build their support amongst the masses? For although they are seen to have fought for equality in the form of just tax collection procedures, fair legislative representation, and honest beaurocrats (see the Remonstrance of the Cour des aides, May 6, 1775), they also fought vociferously to retain Frances traditional tax structure, in which the First and Second Estates were exempt from paying land tax. When Calonne, and then Brienne, tried to relieve Frances financial burdens by instituting a universal land tax, a move which would have invariably eased the financial burdens of the Third Estate, the magistrates of the Parlements fought with the same zeal exhibited previously on behalf of the people to fight against this legislation (see remonstra nces from March 1776 - May 1788). Was their support for the poorer classes sincere, albeit with their personal interests given priority, or had they never truly cared about the rights of the Third Estate from the beginning? An analysis of the arguments presented by the magistrates in support of the poorer classes will offer insight into their mindset at the time the arguments were made. On May 6, 1775, the Cour des aides of the Parlement of Paris issued a ...